Management team
My strongest drive is developing new businesses, as well as finding innovative ways of changing existing markets. Using advanced mathematical and strategic thinking, my goal is to discover new ways of optimizing and consolidating ineffective processes, and make them work more efficiently. I’m one of the pioneers in the Affiliate marketing industry, and one of the ‘super affiliates’ who developed this market more than 10 years ago. I used this experience and knowledge to start Advidi.
I'm passionate when it comes to transforming businesses to maximise value for customers and shareholders.
Over the past 20+ years, I've had the pleasure to build seamless operations in commercially oriented roles in Media, Telecommunications, Recruitment and Insurance sectors. I believe in a customer centric and holistic approach to building organisations, aligning all disciplines ranging from Sales to Operations, Customer Service, and Human Resource Management.
I also believe that a business success is only possible with a balance with family and health.
I thrive to excel professionally, as much as I do my best to be a good husband and father to my 3 sons.
Some people call me competitive, but it's not completely true - it's not really my fault I win all the time. Even though I was the 8th employee at the company overall, I still consider myself #1 when it comes to trivia and movie knowledge. I've enjoyed watching the company grow from a startup to a professional company and experiencing all the hurdles that come with such explosive growth. We're professional, hard-working and respectful, even though having fun is usually our top motivation.
"We're not here to take part, we're here to take over!” Conor McGregor said that after a major win in 2014, and a year later he became the UFC Featherweight World Champion. That is the kind of motivation and determination which inspires me to do better in my life and career. Creating strong, lasting partnerships is in my DNA, and I love being in a role that drives me to constantly find avenues for mutual success. Our industry will change the world of advertising, and the people involved right now are the ones who will have the greatest effect on that transition. It’s a great feeling to know that we’re all in it together - taking over, not just taking part!
I believe I found the perfect life balance – working in a vibrant city, and living close to the beach. Even when those two locations are not close to each other. I travel between the North Sea, and Amsterdam every day. Working here gives me the opportunity to be part of a superior business environment, and impressively creative people. Living in the countryside though, next to beach, running and biking in the forest, is what brings peace to my mind. After a busy day, there’s nothing to be compared to the silence of the woods, and the warmth of my loved one.
When I want to clear my mind, I usually watch superhero movies. Not because I like the violence in them, but because of the power of choice to become someone who can help the world be a better place. Each of us is a sum of their own everyday choices. Reading books, as well as watching TV shows reflects in a best way what I’m doing after a long day. Regarding violence, I recently watched a great episode where they made it very clear: “The real violence, the violence I realized was unforgivable, is the violence we do to ourselves when we’re too afraid to be who we really are”.
"Don't forget the beautiful days." These words (translated from Dutch) were on a sign that my grandparents used to have in their kitchen. I read this sign as a little boy, and I've never forgotten it ever since. What it means to me is that you should never forget how beautiful some days were, although seemingly nothing really special happened. I think nowadays, in the fast moving and digital world we live in, too many people tend to make this mistake.
My parents always encouraged me to travel and see the world. So the first chance I got, I packed my backpack and made the best trip of my life. I came back with lots of great memories and a passion for traveling. But I enjoy the little things in life just as much. Dinners with friends, good coffee and Discovery Channel's Shark Week. After traveling, I decided to leave Nijmegen and move to the big city of Amsterdam to start my career. Luckily enough, I found myself a job at Advidi. Every morning, I enjoy my bike ride to the office where I try to make the workday for my colleagues as easy and comfortable as possible!
For me, the sky is not the limit, the mind is. At Advidi, I feel that there is freedom for the mind to create, to improvise and to develop. This is what I love here. This and data. I believe that “In God we trust, all others must bring data”. If you have data you can find the key to everything. You know what is real and what isn’t, where to go and what to avoid. Thus, you build your way towards a successful performance.
To be honest, I never expected to work in this industry - it just happened to me. At first I wasn’t very excited, but working at Advidi has changed that. I love the innovative, dynamic nature of the business. Our global nature means the work never stops; while some are ending their day, a new one is beginning for someone else, and we’re in the middle of that. I get to apply my data analysis and sales skills while seeing direct results, which creates a strong drive inside me to work in this industry. There are endless opportunities, and Advidi really supports me as I explore them. The energy here is unique!
Born and raised in Morocco, I have lived and studied in the Netherlands, UK and in Mexico. This mixture of cultures and experiences has enriched me and made me realize that anything is possible as long as you are motivated enough to pursue your dreams. Every day is a learning day at Advidi, and I am lucky to be surrounded by internationally oriented people who are driven by improvement and creativity. Oh ja! I am passionate about traveling and languages ;-)
"Me? We." That's the shortest poem in history, written by Muhammad Ali and first appearing in a 1975 speech while addressing young future businessmen. There is no "me" without "we". Advidi is all about doing business while putting up a very strong "we" behind every "me". That's why everyone benefits when doing business with Advidi: we are a great team together with everyone we do business with. And for myself: I am very proud to be heading the tech team within Advidi, and I like sports - especially boxing.
Account Managers
‘No one player is as good as the sum of a team,' Alfredo Di Stefano said this, but also my coach when I started playing football at an early age. Since then, I always try to apply this way of thinking to every phase of my life, either when I am working, or when I am playing with my music band. I am jubilant that I am surrounded by people who also love working in a team!
High school Marina was quite a dreamer; she dreamt of going to San Francisco, going on exchange, getting her Masters abroad and moving to a city that would feel right at the time. Not going to lie, high school Marina was a bit intense. Few years later, here I am, in the city I love at a company that challenges me every day. Happy and proud of everything that I have accomplished so far but most importantly, excited about what is yet to come. Making your dreams come true is hard work but there is nothing better than looking back at everything you have accomplished. Never stop dreaming!
Never back down. Ever since I was a kid I’ve always fought for the goals I set for myself. Work hard, and you’ll be able to “pick the fruits” as we say in the Netherlands. Advidi motivates me because of the focus on improving - if you don’t go for it, you’ll never improve. I especially enjoy the international environment of the company, as I was born in Singapore whilst being half French, half Dutch. Being in a position to work with colleagues and accounts from all over the world is also a big source of inspiration for me.
After three years living and working in China, plus my experiences here in Amsterdam, I’m excited to bring my international perspective to Advidi as a Team Lead. My background in both recruitment and business development has led me to balance my focus on people with a keen eye for opportunity. I use that combination to build a strong foundation within my team, allowing us to remain stable in our current business while keeping ahead of the industry curve. Despite the fact that business is frequently on my mind, I’m always able to find some time for sports - a bit of friendly competition takes my mind off the day-to-day grind and helps me re-focus.
Gaming has always been a big part of my life - you could say I was born with a controller in my hands. After years of building up experience in the marketing and advertising industry, combined with a strong technical understanding, I am now able to combine this with my love for games here at Advidi. I love building long-lasting, fun and friendly relationships with advertisers that allow me to give everyone involved the maximum results! Also, I love cats.
“Treat people the way they want to be treated.” This is something I strongly believe in. Having travelled and lived in different countries due to my previous job, I’ve had the privilege of meeting all sorts of people from different backgrounds. Each one of them has their own story and approach to life - if I were to sketch a situation, no one would respond the same way. If you can get to understand people with a personal approach, you’ll find yourself on solid ground to build up business. A “people-first” mentality, as we say here at Advidi!
“Great things never come from comfort zones.” I always have that thought in my head. It is not possible to achieve something if you are staying in the same place. So I was more than happy to start working at Advidi. The magical atmosphere, people who are super professional in what they do, an opportunity to learn a lot of new things and to have one more interesting challenge in my life are only a few of the things I’ve found here. So don’t save any opportunities for later, because sometimes “later” becomes “never”. Do it now!
“If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat. Just get on."
I dedicated my college years to preparing myself for an international career. Then after college, I would immediately move abroad. At least, that was the plan.
Then Advidi showed up. The vibe, office, people and industry were something that I hadn't experienced before. I had to be a part of it.
This quote stuck with me and reminded me that sometimes you just got to jump on an opportunity, even though it might not be part of the original plan.
Remember to just enjoy the ride.
“Don’t celebrate closing a sale; celebrate opening a relationship.” Sales have always been about a straightforward thing for me: relationships. I see connecting with people and creating bonds as the key to success, both personally and professionally. With a lifelong case of wanderlust, my travels have taken me from all over the US to Europe and beyond, calling Amsterdam my forever home. My career has taken me across many industries, culminating in my role here at Advidi, where we value relationships first (and where I get to satisfy my thirst for travel!).
Affiliate Managers
Me in a nutshell. Travelling back and forth between my hometown and our capital city for a few years now and trust me, that’s no small endeavour. I guess it’s my way of juggling all the things that I value in my life; My big group of close childhood friends, my relationship, my family, my hometown-football club and my career. About the latter, business-wise you’ll find me available almost 24/7 and I sincerely believe that this kind of commitment and dedication is a great USP to have. It got me where I am now and it will take towards the goals that I have set for myself within this industry. Because after all, like the much-debated Jordan Belfort once said; “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.”
Reliability is key to a successful (business) relationship, which is why I’m always straightforward with my business partners as well as colleagues and friends. As someone who aims high, I explore my boundaries with every project - whether it involves adapting a new technique or helping customers in different ways. I can adapt to new situations very quickly, which is why I love affiliate marketing. When I’m not working, I’m DJing or producing music, which I’ve been doing for nearly a decade now. Making music is my outlet for the more creative applications of my personality.
As a goal-orientated and adventurous individual, I constantly strive to exceed limits. I conquered the Iron Viking Marathon, obtained the black belt in Judo and will be a real challenge if you play board/video games with me! I try to live my life at the fullest and to learn as much as possible along the way. I love to be around interesting people, travel a lot and use my longboard to get to work. Advidi inspires me because everyone else shares my high level of motivation for working hard and pushing to become even better tomorrow.
I’ve long been guided by the notion that a mind that has been stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. This holds true both in my personal and professional life, leading me across the world and most recently propelling me into this ever-changing and exciting global community that is affiliate marketing. I love to be surrounded by people that challenge the way I think, and thrive in discussions that require a critical, forward-thinking and innovative mindset. Of course, one too must be grounded, in which case you can also find me with a good book, or having a good laugh with family and friends. Sarcasm is my second nature... which is why you should request me as your AM.
I am a globetrotter by nature. Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamt of seeing the whole world. That’s why I decided to move to Amsterdam. I think a city like Amsterdam is the perfect home for a company like Advidi. It is very diverse, multi-cultural and fun, just like our industry. My job at Advidi allows me to be surrounded by amazing people with totally different backgrounds on a daily basis. Sometimes it can be challenging, but it always motivates me to keep evolving and developing myself.
I grew up, as I only know now, in a bubble. I was fortunate enough to learn from diverse cultures, culminating in great experiences from living in Syria, Italy, Australia, Spain, and the UK. But all bubbles pop, and mine was when I gained my university degree in the UK. What now? What do I do? Door-to-door sales, customer service, cold calling. I needed more, I had to find something to make me stand out, and the only way was to hustle with a purpose. This is what I repeat to myself every day; do not settle. Fortunately, now I am surrounded with people who also have this mentality, here at Advidi.
My philosophy in life is all about realizing the things that you dream of and creating moments that make you happy. Ever since I was five years old, living in The Netherlands, I always dreamt of traveling the world. At the age of 25, I started fulfilling my dream by visiting over 45 countries in 5 continents. I learned a lot from different cultures, created the best memories, all because I just followed my dreams. The rule I stand for is to be myself, make my own path and surround myself with like-minded people. What I love the most about my job here at Advidi is working in an exciting entrepreneurial minded environment where I am given the responsibility as if I run my own business. My most important goal now is to keep creating those win-win situations for each of the stakeholders that I work with.
Starting a career in Affiliate Marketing was a very significant event in my life. I believe that every affiliate marketer would agree that this industry changes marketing and it feels great to be a part of this evolution. A platform where you have a lot of room for both technical innovation and taking your managerial skills to the next level is how I would describe it. Being part of Advidi means that you are here to innovate and create experiences for every client and partner.
To dare to discover new frontiers and the will to challenge what people think is possible, runs in my Portuguese blood. I have been leaping from one endeavor to another and I'm far to feel like it's enough for now. Mixing with new cultures and getting to know new people has always been a pleasure of mine. I have lived in many different countries and created long-lasting bonds in every corner of the world. In me you will find someone that you can rely on, a team player and eager to do better. Advidi puts people first and believes in collaboration because the commitment of an individual to a team is what makes a company work.
Finance
‘’Do I look forward to getting back to work?” I ask myself every morning to see if I am spending my days doing a job I love, with people I enjoy being around. I am really lucky that my answer is ‘Oh God yes!’ every day. At Advidi the environment is fun and motivating. It helps me achieve a work-life balance, even if it seems impossible nowadays. It taught me that you can find the way to spend quality time chilling with your beloved ones, going on camping trips or cycling. Things that I could never do if I had remained in my hometown, Istanbul.
As a person who likes changes and adventure, I traveled halfway around the world to study in The Netherlands. This new life offered so many new things and changes, but being strong, working hard and learning all the time helped me stand up. Joining Advidi is my new adventure with a great environment, nice colleagues and so much fun to be had. In this new adventure, we can be strong together, work hard together and learn from each other. I’m ready to show them how big we can go!
When I was younger I had no idea what I wanted to be, like so many do. While I thought having my own bar was an amazing idea, I soon realized that it was not something I wanted to do my whole life - I wanted to further my education. So I went back to school and got my degree in Finance and Control. However, at that point, I still wasn’t ready to settle down, which led me to travel to Sri Lanka to see more of the world. Coming back from this adventure, I was ready to focus on my career, which led me to Advidi. Now I’m here, working in finance and I love it.
Growing up in the Netherlands, we always moved around quite a bit, from Rotterdam to the more nature rich areas. This gave me the desire to travel which led me to Melbourne, Australia where I lived like a local while finishing my studies. After completing my internship and thesis I went on a road trip of a lifetime: all over the East coast of Australia and Tasmania. After the road trip and a not so quick stop in Malaysia, it was time to come back. Being back in the Netherlands and living in Amsterdam, I found a great company to work at which offers a good work/life balance and an awesome international vibe where I can share my stories and hear new ones every day.
At Advidi, I’ve had the privilege to learn from friendly, international, and open-minded colleagues in excellent working conditions. I arrived in Amsterdam in January 2019 as an exchange student. I was supposed to go back home after six months, but during my semester at university, I met nice people, fell in love with the city, and ultimately changed my plans. I decided to stay for an internship and gain more real-world work experience to further my career when I return to France. After only a few months here, I can already say that choosing Advidi for my internship was the right decision!
Marketing
I don’t often take impulsive decisions, but I’ve got to admit, my one spontaneous decision has changed my life. In the search of new adventures, I booked a one-way ticket to the UAE and life has been on a great track ever since. For 5 years, I lived in Dubai, traveled around the continent and met some amazing people.
Over the years, my love for digital marketing has become my passion which brought me to the Netherlands and to Advidi. Here’s to being part of this fun dynamic workplace and to new challenges to come!
Proudly born and raised in Northern Italy. Architecture degree in my background, graphic design in my present, with a dream to combine them in the future. I lived in Norway for almost two years - just the right amount of time to make me understand that it wasn’t “my place”. Glad to finally be in Amsterdam and work at Advidi in an exciting and dynamic environment. Just what I needed.My worst nightmare? To fall into the boredom of a routine life. The most important thing I’ve learned is that I don’t want to keep on wasting time doing things I don’t want to do! People who truly know me keep on saying my mind’s on the moon, but they don’t know what they are missing. The view from up here is amazing.
Like a true Australian, I love to tell a good story and am always up for an adventure. When I was 16, my mum and dad took my 3 siblings and I to Nepal, and we trekked to Mt Everest base camp. I truly learned the meaning of hard work and determination from this experience. Now, in the biggest adventure of all, almost 10,000 miles from my family, I love living the international dream and calling Amsterdam home.
From having been born and raised in Hong Kong I have grown up in a melting pot of cultures. I thrive in this environment and love that Advidi is its own melting pot that I get to work in. I moved to the Netherlands for university just before I turned 18 and despite being half Dutch, for me the Netherlands felt completely foreign whilst now it has turned into my second home. This really challenged me for the better. Whilst studying I discovered my passion for marketing, especially in how we are able to communicate through media which is constantly changing.
Human Resources
Coming from a background in psychology, I stepped a bit outside of my comfort zone by joining Advidi, and it’s been a great experience from the beginning. I love challenges and am grateful that my previous experiences have prepared me for this environment - I appreciate that I’m able to bring a professional touch while finding the best people for our unique workplace. Everyone here is truly cool, which makes me feel confident walking into the office every day - I know I’ll be surrounded by friendly colleagues while doing something that inspires me.
When I started at Advidi with my internship whilst doing my HR degree, I never expected that
I would like a company so much. During my time here, I was asked if I wanted to continue
working at Advidi as a corporate recruiter. I can't wait to connect the right people to this great company so they can have the same incredible experience I have had. Whilst working here the most important thing I’ve learned is that when you believe in yourself, you can make it happen. Also when you are surrounded by the right people, they will help you reach your goals. Because of this company culture, I am always happy to go to work where I am surrounded by people that help me grow and want to see me succeed!
Advidi has given me my first opportunity to learn more about the HR work field and I have never felt more welcome in a team than I have here. For years I worked in Hospitality and it was my job to make other people feel welcome. Now it still is but in a completely different environment. For me, this is a big part of HR, next to guiding people to find their strength and helping them to face obstacles. Norman Vincent Peale once said "Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven't half the strength you think they have". I think the culture of Advidi embodies this and that's why I love being a part of this company.
Business Intelligence
I’m usually a very quiet person, but that just means that i’m thinking a lot :-) I go through many books per month, so you can often find me in the non-fiction section at the international bookstore. Due to my childhood in Tokyo I really appreciate Japanese (pop) culture; I really love the online culture and community. This is why Advidi is such a good fit for me. Data analysis is what I do, ensuring my colleagues are supported by accurate reports, which helps them to operate efficiently. I love it here at Advidi and can’t imagine working anywhere else!
“Happiness is the tranquillity one feels when having the certainty of being on the right path”. - Jorge Bucay. The right path for me is in small things, in pleasant moments and in being around nice people. I think that the most powerful person is a happy one. When you are in the right place, with the right people and in the right moment, you can definitely feel happy and complete. So I always try to find the happy way of living. It brings me to the right places, nice people and good environments.
My story starts in Bulgaria, and my passion for numbers has been following me ever since. My next stop – Glasgow – was nice and memorable, but still I can’t compare it to Amsterdam. Here I feel like I can thoroughly develop my potential, and working at Advidi contributes a great deal to that. I love being part of the BI team, as we are not only transforming data into meaningful insights and beautiful reports, but also having a lot of fun in the meantime and enjoying every aspect of the work. Besides that, what makes me excited is riding my bike around the city, going to the movies and to artsy events, or simply having a great meal outside.
Tech Department
Two years ago I worked in a financial department, but it wasn't my dream job. At that time I made the decision to do something I really like: Web design and web development. I studied for a year and followed different courses on YouTube and Udemy. In this time I got a few freelance projects.
After learning the ropes, I got my first job as a developer, where I learned a lot more and really refined my skills. Now I’ve been working at Advidi for a while and I like it a lot. I have amazing colleagues and Advidi gives me the space to be creative and continue to develop myself.
My love and deep-rooted passion for IT and Web Development have enabled me to become part of this dynamic company. I must confess that I have always had a passion for helping people; coming from a background in nursing, I have stepped a bit outside of my comfort zone. I am fascinated whenever I encounter people who love to create, build awesome apps and embrace what they do. I am always inspired by those people, especially my husband. “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious” -Albert Einstein
I like to cook in my spare time - mainly Mediterranean dishes, as I am originally from Spain. In my coding I also like to add some spice here and there to present our users and partners with the best flavours possible. Besides great colleagues and a great atmosphere, there's one extra thing that truly motivates me here at Advidi: the daily fresh dishes cooked by our office chef. Great food for great thoughts!
Before I started my coding career I was working towards a PhD in Biomedical Science. Maybe that's why I really feel at home at Advidi: the chemistry between technology and people is amazing! Furthermore, I'm excited to explore what machine learning and artificial intelligence can bring to our field of expertise.
In life, it's all about great teamwork and balance. Einstein once said: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” And great movement is what Advidi is all about! So as a member of our great tech team, we'll keep the pace of software development as close to the speed of light as Einstein will allow us.
My big passion in life is music in all its varieties; I play the saxophone in an orchestra and I dance to mostly Irish tunes with a team. I love to perform to share my passion with others. In order to achieve perfect harmony in music and dance, you need to pay attention to both your team and your surroundings. Music brings people together and makes them shine. That’s why I love being a programmer. It’s all about teamwork and creativity whilst being in tune with everybody else in the company.
Office
I always wanted a dog, but my parents believed that I was too young for that. Still, I had already decided that I’d have a dog, and I gave her the name ‘Niksi’ (which means ‘nothing’ in Dutch). Obviously, she got this name because she never really existed. Nonetheless, I took Niksi with me everywhere I went. One day Niksi got 1,000 puppies, which meant she was no longer allowed to live with me. Instead, she moved to my grandfather’s barn. A few years later, my grandfather called me over, saying that he had great news for me. He had bought me a real puppy - and her name was Niksi, of course! My imaginary dog wasn’t imaginary anymore. This experience taught me that we should never give up on our dreams!
I was 9 and really hungry that night when my dad figured out that he forgot to buy groceries. In panic, he started looking around the kitchen, and found a can of beans, knakworst (Dutch sausage), a few eggs and suspicious potatoes. I stood next to him astonished watching him cutting, cooking and flipping pans. I was expecting to try the worst meal ever! But, on the contrary, the mix that looked like a Spanish omelet was actually delicious! It was so good that we named it – Darkai. Maybe not the most creative name, since we only put our names together. But I learned something important that day - In time of crisis, use your creativity as your main force. It was also the day from which I started thinking about all the possible mixtures of flavors that can be brought together. I believe it was as well the day when I discovered the magic of cooking.